Stonehaugh 'Tower'

Has been described as a Certain Bastle

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameStonehaugh 'Tower'
Alternative NamesStonehouse; Staingarthsyde
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishNicholforest

Stonehaugh Tower: the remains of C16 pele, 35' x 24' externally, with a loop-hold in each wall. Only the southern and eastern walls remain (1927) (Curwen, 1928). Stonehouse Tower (NY 46384) Remains as described by Curwen. Although it is now called 'tower' the remains suggest that it was a bastle (Ramm et al). This probable bastle, of no known local name except 'The Tower', has dimensions as stated and stands on the edge of a level arable field. The 1.4m wide south and east walls of block and pinning construction stand to a maximum height of 3.0m and show an internal rebate line for the upper floor at 2.4m. There is an open loophole in the east wall, but the opening in the south wall is a simple recess 0.5m deep. The foundations of the north and west arms are turf-covered and overgrown, as is the interior. A stone-built lean-to barn stands against the east wall (Field Investigators Comments–F1 JRL 20-AUG-79). (PastScape)

Stonehouse Tower medieval bastle is one of a number of bastles located close to the Scottish border. As such it will contribute greatly to our knowledge and understanding of the wider border settlement and economy during the medieval period.

The monument includes the upstanding and buried remains of a medieval bastle known as Stonehouse Tower. It is located on the flood plain 140m east of Liddel Water, which here forms the boundary between England and Scotland, and is constructed of roughly squared and roughly coursed rubble, for the most part with uniform quoins. The bastle measures approximately 10.7m by 8.7m with walls 1.3m thick. The south east and south west walls survive up to about 3.6m high and contain two narrow vent slits and a square recess thought to have been used as a cupboard. The south west end wall has the remains of a corbel which may have supported a hearth on the upper floor. Only the foundations and lower course of the north east and north west walls survive. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

The floor plan dimensions are superficially more like those of a pele tower than that a bastle, which may be the reason for Curwen calling this a pele tower (although the bastle was a less known building in Curwen time), but the date makes it clear this was a bastle, although possibly built in a somewhat antiquated style. Possible marked as 'Staingarthsyde' on 1590 map, although the map maker may have confused the Stonehaugh name with nearby Stonegarthside. Salter describes it as a tower, shown on a map of 1590, and the seat of Robert Forest, but this was Stonegarthside.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY463804
Latitude55.1152305603027
Longitude-2.84333992004395
Eastings346303
Northings580418
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 243 (plan)
  • Salter, Mike, 1998, The Castles and Tower Houses of Cumbria (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 103 (slight)
  • Jackson, M.J.,1990, Castles of Cumbria (Carlisle: Carel Press) p. 100
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 96
  • Ramm, H.G., McDowall, R.W. and Mercer, E., 1970, Shielings and Bastles (London: HMSO) p. 78 no. 16
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1967, Buildings of England: Cumberland and Westmorland (Harmondsworth) p. 172
  • Curwen, J.F., 1913, Castles and Fortified Towers of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 13) p. 397
  • Jeffrey, A., 1864, History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire Vol. 4 p. 232 (facsimile of map) online copy

Journals

  • Curwen, J.F., 1928, 'Stonegarthside Hall' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 28 p. 389-392 online copy
  • Graham, T.H.B., 1914, 'The Debatable Land Part II' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 14 facing p. 148 online copy [online copy of 1607 platt > http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/maps/m067.htm] [online copy of 1552 map > http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/maps/m068.htm]
  • Graham, T.H.B., 1909, 'Six Extinct Cumberland Castles' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 9 p. 216-7 online copy

Primary Sources

  • 1590, A Platt of the opposete Borders of Scotland to ye west marches of England (The Aglionby Platt) British Library online Gallery and [Old Cumbria Gazetteer > http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/maps/m048.htm] (see also [Gatehouse Essay 'The Aglionby Platt' > http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/APHome.html])
  • 1607, Platt of the Forrest of Nicholl and the Mannor of Liddale, Arthurett and Randelinton with the Debatable groundes online copy (Stonegarthside)

Other

  • Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk North West Register 2016 (London: Historic England) p. 13 online copy
  • Historic England, 2015, Heritage at Risk North West Register 2015 (London: Historic England) p. 16 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2014, Heritage at Risk Register 2014 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 16 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2013, Heritage at Risk Register 2013 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 16 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2012, Heritage at Risk Register 2012 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 31 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 29 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 27 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009 North West (London: English Heritage) p. 36 online copy
  • Cole, J.R., 1982, A survey of the Debatable Land and Glen Tarras c. 1449-1620 (Thesis for Manchester University) p. 45